The Ministry of Local Government says ratepayers will only be invoiced for the first seven months from 1st January 2021 to 31st July 2021 because of the change in the financial year of the Municipal Councils.
Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar says the Ministry considered it beneficial to align the fiscal year of Municipal Councils to that of the National Government’s financial year and this will allow for easier acquittal processes for projects and grants funded by the state.
She says the reform will mean a change to the issuing of end of year rate notices to the ratepayers.
Kumar says mid-year rates notices will better match the ability of ratepayers to pay their rates.
She further says families will be more able to budget if rates are not at the beginning of a calendar year which competes with other needs and most families also have loans and debts to pay off at the beginning of the year.
The Minister adds the struggle to pay for all the dues at the start of the year becomes a challenge for ordinary households and therefore the payment of rates in the middle of the year, starting from August 2021, will bring in much-needed relief to families and ratepayers.
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